SECURITY COUNCIL CONCERNED BY INCREASE IN MILITARY ACTIVITIES IN EASTERN CHAD, CONDEMNS ANY ATTEMPT AT DESTABILIZATION BY FORCE

SECURITY COUNCIL CONCERNED BY INCREASE IN MILITARY ACTIVITIES IN EASTERN CHAD,

CONDEMNS ANY ATTEMPT AT DESTABILIZATION BY FORCE

Expressing grave concern regarding the increase in military activities of armed groups in eastern Chad, the Security Council today strongly condemned all attempts at destabilization by force, including the recent offensive carried out by such groups in the Biltine and the Ouaddei, and expressed its concern regarding the threat that they posed for the safety of the civilian population and of humanitarian personnel and their operations.

Through a statement read out by its President for November, Jamal Nasser Al-Bader (Qatar), the Council supported the statement of the President of the Commission of the African Union that the attacks against Chad were a blatant violation of the principles stated in the African Union’s Constitute Act, including respect for the territory integrity and unity of member States, and reaffirmed that any attempt to seize power by force was unacceptable.

The Council also expressed its concern over the continuing tensions between Chad and the Sudan, urging the two States to abide fully by the obligations they assumed, regarding respect for, and security of, their common border, in the 8 February 2006 Tripoli Agreement and subsequent agreements, and once again urged the States to cooperate, with a view to ensuring their common stability.

Reaffirming its deep concern about the worsening security situation in Darfur, the Council stressed that a peaceful settlement to the conflict in Darfur, in accordance with the Darfur Peace Agreement and relevant Council resolutions, would contribute to restoring security and stability in the region, in particular in Chad and the Central African Republic.

Reiterating that the presence of a large number of refugees places a heavy burden on the host country and for the local communities, the Council emphasized the need for humanitarian aid to continue reaching the people in need of assistance without any hindrance, and called on Chad’s Government to do all it can to protect its civilian population.

The Council also looked forward to a prompt report of the Secretary-General, with recommendations focusing on ways of improving security conditions on the Chad side of the border with the Sudan and the monitoring of transborder activities between Chad, the Sudan and the Central African Republic.

The meeting began at 4:53 p.m. and adjourned at 4:59 p.m.

The full text of the presidential statement, to be issued as S/PRST/2006/53, reads as follows:

“The Security Council expresses its grave concern regarding the increase in military activities of armed groups in eastern Chad.

“The Security Council strongly condemns all attempts at destabilisation by force, including the recent offensive carried out by these groups in the Biltine and the Ouaddei, and supports the statement of the President of the Commission of the African Union that those attacks against Chad are a blatant violations of the principles stated in the Constitutive Act of the African Union, including respect for the territorial integrity and unity of Member States. The Security Council reaffirms that any attempt to seize power by force is unacceptable. It recalls the importance of an open political dialogue based on constitutional provisions to foster national reconciliation and durable peace in the country.

“The Security Council expresses its concern regarding the threat that the increase in military activities of armed groups in eastern Chad poses for the safety of the civilian population and of humanitarian personnel and the maintenance of their operations in the eastern part of the country. It reiterates that the presence of a large number of refugees places a heavy burden on the host country and for the local communities, and emphasizes the need for humanitarian aid to continue reaching the people in need of assistance without any hindrance. It calls on the Government of Chad to do all it can to protect its civilian population.

“The Security Council reaffirms its deep concern about the worsening security situation in Darfur. It stresses that a peaceful settlement to the conflict in Darfur, in accordance with the Darfur Peace Agreement and relevant Security Council resolutions, will contribute to restoring security and stability in the region, in particular in Chad and the Central African Republic, and reaffirms its commitment to the sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of all States in the region.

“The Security Council expresses its concern over the continuing tensions between Chad and the Sudan, urges the two States to abide fully by the obligations they assumed with regard to respect for, and securing of, their common border in the 8 February 2006 Tripoli Agreement and in subsequent agreements concluded between them, and once again urges the States of the region to cooperate, with a view to ensuring their common stability.

“The Security Council recalls that it looks forward to a prompt report of the Secretary-General with recommendations, as requested in previous relevant security council resolutions, focusing on ways of improving security conditions on the Chad side of the border with the Sudan and the monitoring of transborder activities between Chad, the Sudan and the Central African Republic, bearing in mind the need to foster regional peace and stability.”

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For information media • not an official record

For information media. Not an official record.

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